O’Brien and Balbirnie steer Leinster Lightning to victory

A 187-run fifth wicket stand between Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie helped Leinster Lightning win the opening game of the Interprovincial 50-over Cup as they recorded a 19-run Duckworth Lewis verdict over the North West Warriors at Milverton in Skerries on Saturday.

Chasing 286 on a belter of a deck at The Hills, Leinster struggled against the new ball and were 46 for four in the 13th over when the two Ireland internationals came to the crease.

O’Brien had scored an unbeaten 111 in last year’s opener on the same ground against the Northern Knights but he would cruelly be denied this time around after a drive from Balbirnie was deflected on to O’Brien’s stumps by Johnny Thompson to run him out on 98.

With weather always likely to play its part, O’Brien made his runs in his usual hasty manner, his 98 coming from 67 deliveries and featuring 11 fours and three sixes to put his side ahead on DL calculations as the rain arrived.

There was still time for the home side to lose both skipper John Mooney and his cousin Eddie Richardson and also for Balbirnie, now on a full-time contract with Middlesex, to bring up a run a ball century that saw him hit 13 fours and two sixes.

Balbirnie was unbeaten on 103 when the rain forced the teams from the pitch after 38 overs, with the home side on 254 for seven and ahead on run rate. Just under an hour later the umpires ended the game and Leinster had the points.

The Warriors will take plenty from the game, with only skipper Andy McBrine missing out with the bat amongst the top six, with opener Jason Milligan (61), Stuart Thompson (60 not out) and Johnny Thompson (66 not out) all making half-centuries.

At Milverton: North West won the toss and batted
NORTH WEST WARRIORS
D Rankin b Richardson 33
J Milligan run out (Balbirnie) 61
N McDonnell c Collins b Balbirnie 40
S Thompson not out 60
A McBrine c Poynter b Richardson 6
J Thompson not out 66
Extras (lb4, w15) 19
Total (for 4 wkts, 20 ovs) 285
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-135, 3-161, 4-180
Bowling: M Sorensen 10-1-62-0; E Richardson 10-0-54-2; J Mooney 8-0-33-0; K O'Brien 6-1-43-0; G Dockrell 9-0-45-0; J Anderson 3-0-19-0; A Balbirnie 4-0-25-1.
LEINSTER LIGHTNING
B Ackland c Young b J Thompson 0
A Balbirnie not out 103
P Collins b Young 0
J Anderson b J Thompson 10
A Poynter c Dougherty b S Thompson 8
K O'Brien run out 98
J Mooney b McBrine 4
E Richardson c Dougherty b McBrine 4
M Sorensen not out 9
Extras (lb1, w21) 22
Total (for 7 wkts, 38 ovs) 254
Did not bat: F McAllister, G Dockrell
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-7, 3-20, 4-46, 5-233, 6-237, 7-243
Bowling: C Young 7-2-42-1; J Thompson 10-2-51-2; S Thompson 5-0-46-1; A Riddles 2-0-27-0; I Hussain 4-0-37-0; A McBrine 10-1-50-2.
Leinster Lightning beat North West Warriors by 19 runs (D/L).